Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws says gang patches should be banned in Wanganui to stop what he describes as daily terrorism activity.
Appearing before the Law and Order Select Committee, which is considering a bill to outlaw gang colours and insignia in the city, Mr Laws said such a measure would reduce intimidation and the recruitment of young people to gangs such as the Mongrel Mob and Black Power.
He showed information from police showing that local gang offending has continued to rise since 2004.
Mr Laws says the legislation might breach the Bill of Rights, but that should be overlooked to safeguard the safety of the people of Wanganui.
The Police Association told the committee that banning gang colours and insignia in Wanganui would be a good start to combating gang-related crime.
